Testing community center: Here’s why the pros focus on cost-recovery goal in Mission

The City of Mission is looking for a firm to evaluate operations at its Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center and the city’s continued investment in the center.

“The Powell Community Center was constructed in 1999 and expanded in 2004, making it one of the oldest indoor recreation/community center facilities in the entire Kansas City metropolitan region,” the city said in its request for proposals.

“Increased competition from newer facilities, changing demographics, deferred maintenance at the Powell Community Center, and most recently continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the operations and cost-recovery for the Center.”

The document said that the 80,000-square-foot community center, at 6200 Martway St., recovered 34% of its operating costs last year and is likely to perform similarly in the current fiscal year. In the late 2000s, according to the document, the city established a cost recovery target of 70% to 80%.

“Establishing and maintaining a target cost-recovery goal is important to ensure the operations of the Powell Community Center are not unintentionally taking resources from Mission’s other operating departments or infrastructure priorities,” the request for proposal said.

Among other things, the consulting firm will review the center’s finances, study recent trends for community centers, determine the center’s target market and suggest the best use of both the staff and space there. With public involvement, the overall question to be answered is: “Do we operate the Powell Community Center similar to our current standard, adopt a partner organization or significantly adjust operations to meet trends and demands?”

Proposals are due on Dec. 10, and the city expects to choose the firm in early January.

Roeland Park keeps a few fireworks legal

The Roeland Park City Council has backed away from an outright fireworks ban, opting instead to allow novelty items on July 4 like snakes, snappers, sparklers, smoke devices and fountains that don’t make noise.

A proposed ban was presented to the council on Oct. 4, and several residents spoke in favor of it. One said that fireworks had gotten out of control in the city.

Council member Jan Faidley voiced support for the ban at that time, noting that her grandmother saw heartbreaking fireworks injuries as a KU Medical Center nurse.

“Fireworks are best handled by professionals, particularly in an urban setting,” she said then.

But council member Tom Madigan and others urged that residents be allowed to have a little fun on the Fourth with smaller, less dangerous devices that don’t bother neighbors. Some council members said they had heard community support for something short of a full ban.

The staff revised the ordinance, which won unanimous voice-vote approval on Nov. 1, including from Faidley.

Roeland Park previously allowed Independence Day fireworks from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. July 3-4, but now the hours are restricted to July 4 from noon to 10 p.m. The new ordinance also raises the minimum fine from $25 to $100.

Their glider was best

Two Shawnee Mission high school students have earned the top prize at a university aerospace design contest by designing and building a glider that beat the competition for distance, flight time and accuracy.

Seniors Luke Rogers and Carlos Alvarado each earned a $2,000 scholarship to the University of Kansas. They attend Shawnee Mission Northwest and Shawnee Mission North high schools, respectively, and are enrolled in Shawnee Mission’s Aerospace Engineering Signature Program.

“These students, when asked by industry professionals about their gliders, were able to speak in appropriate terminology about their design decisions and how they adapted after each flight,” Jessica Tickle, the Shawnee Mission district’s aerospace engineering instructor, said in a news release.

The University of Kansas event included numerous challenges in different disciplines.

Shawnee historic site earns award

Shawnee Town 1929 has received the 2021 Technology Award from the Kansas Museums Association.

The living history museum was honored for its Virtual 360 Tour, which proved useful during the pandemic shutdown and has allowed people to check out the museum before they visit in person, a city spokeswoman said.

The virtual tour, set to 1920s music, pans around the property and labels buildings on the site at 11501 W 57th St.

Volunteers needed for Christmas Bureau shop

The Johnson County Christmas Bureau Association will operate its annual Holiday Shop from Dec. 3 to Dec. 11 in the former Toys ‘R Us Store at 95th Street and Quivira Road in Overland Park.

But like many businesses, it’s suffering from a labor shortage. The Christmas Bureau still needs volunteers to help create the pop-up store or accompany clients as they shop for groceries, household supplies, personal care items and holiday gifts.

“This year, many companies are not allowing their employees to volunteer in groups through their company,” Larry Bigus, the organization’s executive director, said in a news release. “This has created a shortage for us and we are counting on the public to help us out.”

The Christmas bureau has minimal paid staff so resources can go to people in need, Bigus said.

“We depend on volunteers to help make the shop run and bring joy to these families who are facing hardship,” he said. “Volunteering for a three-to-four shift will be the most heart-warming experience you’ll have this holiday season.”

Volunteers must be high school age or older; and must wear masks while on duty. Go to jccb.org/volunteer or make a financial gift at jccb.org.

JCCC ranks high in study-abroad program

A U.S. government agency has identified Johnson County Community College as having sent a high number of students abroad as Gilman Scholarship recipients since the Gilman program began in 2001. JCCC ranks second among two-year institutions across the country.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program has made studying abroad more inclusive by providing scholarships to outstanding students who otherwise might not be able to afford to study abroad. More than 34,000 Gilman Scholars have studied or interned in more than 155 countries.

This story was originally published November 18, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Testing community center: Here’s why the pros focus on cost-recovery goal in Mission."